by Carol Memmott, USA TODAY

by Carol Memmott, USA TODAY

Sheldon Stephens, the first of four men to have accused Sesame Street's former Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash of sexual abuse, filed a lawsuit late Monday.

In the suit, Stephens alleges Clash used crystal meth and "poppers" before engaging in sexual contact with him when he was 16 years old.

"I was taken advantage of by someone a lot older, and manipulated," Stephens, who's now 24, told a Manhattan news conference on Tuesday.

According to the complaint, Sheldon met Clash, now 52, in 2004 at a social networking event for models and actors, and shortly after they met, Clash told Stephens he would help him advance his career. The complaint alleges Clash began having sexual intercourse with Stephens when he was 16.

The complaint also alleges that on one occasion, a chauffeur drove Clash and Stephens to the chauffeur's apartment where they had a crystal-meth "sex party," and that Clash smoked meth while engaging in sexual activity with Stephens.

Stephens said at the news conference he was 22 when the relationship ended. He said he only took action after watching Sesame Street with his young nieces: "When I started to realize my nieces were idolizing this character, it just disgusted me inside because I knew what had happened to me."

A statement from Clash's attorney Michael Berger called the suit "meritless" and said it has exceeded the statute of limitations. "The plaintiff has already admitted in writing that he had 'an adult consensual relationship' with Mr. Clash," said the statement. "Mr. Clash continues to deny any wrongdoing, and we intend to defend this case forcefully."

Sheldon Stephens v. Kevin Clash was filed Monday night in United States District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania. Stephens, a Pennsylvania native, originally accused Clash in November, then recanted that accusation.

Three other men also are suing Clash, alleging underage sex. Clash resigned from Sesame Street in November.